Mark headed south with a big team on Thursday while Benny is in charge of the Canterbury runners – they’re busy men! ADDINGTON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20 RACE 1 SIMONE DE BEAUVOIR (8, fr. 1980m mob) Ricky May -“A gallop last start and onto the all-weather now. I think she’s a chance with a nice run through from the draw.” (Mark). RACE 2 MRS WASHINGTON (11, fr. 1609m mob) Ricky May -“A poor draw for her. She really needed to draw one here. So plenty of luck needed.” (Benny). RACE 3 MICHELLE (1, fr. 1980m mob) Ricky May -“Mobile start and …
Wayne says no to rush for Memphis
She was almost sold a few months ago and now she’s staying put. Top filly Stylish Memphis was to be well-settled in Perth by now after a sweet deal was agreed to by Western Australian connections, only to fall at a minor vet issue at the eleventh-hour. Owner Wayne Higgs had constructed a deal to sell the filly but would retain the breeding rights at a later date, a good deal for all but ultimately one which did not proceed. Fast forward six months and Stylish Memphis, a full-sister to wonderful race filly and mare Delightful Memphis, successful in three …
Kick-off begins for the holiday season
The race team will soon be out in force, this week more select numbers led by Stylish Memphis and Lulu Le Mans in the Group 1 $100,000 Peter Breckon Memorial Caduceus Club Stakes at Alex Park on Saturday night. ADDINGTON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13 RACE 1 FANCY (8, fr. 1980m mob) Ricky May -“She got back and ran on well last time. Plan A is to go forward and Plan B is to do Plan A well.” (Benny). RACE 2 SIOUX PRINCESS (11, U1, fr. 1980m mob) Sam Ottley -“We know about her – she trots she can win – she …
Quiet week with Xmas racing ahead
ADDINGTON, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7 RACE 1 SMOKE N REACTOR (9, fr. 1980m mob) Laura McKay – “Disappointed us a bit at Motukarara. She had a chance there. Wide gate no help here and we hope for better.” (Mark). RACE 4 RANGER BOMB (3, fr. 1980m mob) Ricky May -“Happy with him, working good a good draw and an eachway chance for sure.” (Benny). METHVEN, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9 RACE 1 SIMONE DE BEAUVOIR (1, fr. 2400m stand) Sam Ottley -“Really pleased with her at Oamaru. Did everything right and all but won it. Would have to be a good eachway chance …
Willison, Deny Everything to the paddock
Mark will take a mid-season break with impressive Addington winner Willison and maiden graduate Deny Everything, respective winners for the Elite team on Friday and Saturday. Willison, who raced without luck at the Cup meeting, put his best foot forward on Friday with Mark in the sulky, though he’s ready for a break now. “I’d not been as happy with him, and even in the week leading up to Friday night until he worked nice on Wednesday,” said Mark. “He can have as nice break over Christmas now and back for something bigger later – he’s good enough to run …
Elite step out Memphis and Skippy at Addington
Another busy week, headlined by Stylish Memphis, Fancy, and Skippys Delight taking on Sires Stakes races at Addington. ADDINGTON, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29 RACE 2 MICHELLE (2, fr. 1980m mob) Sam Ottley, & SIOUX PRINCESS (10) Mark Jones – “Michelle has not had a trial and will likely need it. Thought it’s a good opportunity to kick her off in this race. Sioux Princess I’ll drive this week. If she does things right she is definitely a good chance.” (Mark). RACE 4 FANCY (5, fr, 1980m mob) Sam Ottley & STYLISH MEMPHIS (8) Ricky May -“Fancy won really good last start, …
Dexter gets Whittaker home
DEXTER DUNN SALUTES AT BIG M WITH WHITTAKER Former champion NZ driver Dexter Dunn warmed up for Sunday’s $2.8 million card at The Meadowlands, New Jersey, with a winning treble on an under-card there on Saturday, including success with former Overport Lodge pacer, Whittaker. Dexter, who topped a staggering $US11 milliion mark in winning driver pursess for the year this week, was able to win from the eight barrier in a $12,500 with Whittaker, these days prepared by Paul Blumenfield. Whttaker settled in midfield improved to challenge turning for home and ran clear by a length and three-quarters in 1:52.2 …
Forty Thieves another useful export
FORTY THIEVES ADDS TO GOOD JONES SALE RECORD Forty Thieves, who led and won at Melton in a useful 1:54.4 rate (2240m) on Friday night, is another good winner to be sold early days out of the Mark Jones stable. Bred by Hamish Scott, Dr Kim Lawson and Equine Investments Ltd, the Chistian Cullen-Harem Franco gelding only raced twice in NZ at three, with Jones letting him go after winning a $5413 maiden at Forbury in December 2015 in a 1:59.5 rate (2200m). The half-brother to Franco Harrison (1:58.1) and Franco Harrington (1:51.2, US) led throughout Friday’s $20,000 Allied Express …
No boarding pass required for Memphis
Smart filly will float to Auckland after Alabar heat at Addington Mark and Benny have made the decision to sit and wait for next Friday’s $22,000 Alabar Sires Stakes Fillies Heat at Addington and pass by the chance to fly Stylish Memphis to Auckland a few days earlier. A plane will head to Auckland on Monday with a number of Alexandra Park hopefuls for the December carnival and she could have been on it in preference to running in the Auckland heat of the series on December 6. But after the training partners discussed the programme it was felt a …
Elite team busy South to North this week
A team heads to Ascot Park to kick off another busy weekend on Friday afternoon, Lulu is flying and heads around again at Alex Park, with a number of runners scheduled to race at the Orari and Timaru meetings on Saturday and Sunday. ASCOT PARK, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22 RACE 3 PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM (11, FR. 2200m mob) Sam Ottley -“Drawn bad but in the right race after a nice enough trial (Methven). Capable in this field.” (Benny) RACE 4 MAHARAJAH (7, fr. 2200m mob) Sam Ottley -“Handy maiden this and a wide draw so some luck needed from there but up …